I found this in a PD forum. What do you think? please share your personal experiences here!
"One of my hobbies before I was diagnosed was weight lifting my question is am I okay starting my hobbie again without making my Parkinson's worse as I need something to keep me sane"
Do what ever makes you happy. Weight lifting is great for pd but aerobic is even better a combination of the two is the best you can do. I do crossfit which is a mixture of all types of exercise. It has help me improve 100% or more.
I would if I were you. Parkinson's is, as you know, also a muscle wasting disease, so it is important to do whatever we can and working with weights IMHO is very important. I do find, however, that my tremor is worse for a couple hours after I go to the gym. It fades soon enough and I don't worry about it. I worry much more about my muscles turning to mush.
I have some aches a day after workout but if I take enough rest it then becomes okay.My Neurologist is against weight lifting and recommends Swimming and Cycling instead.I assume they wouldn’t recommend activities that consume more Dopamine.
In my opinion Neurologists should not discourage anyone from doing any type of exercise. Your Neuro is wrong to discourage you from weight lifting. He is just misinformed. Weight lifting is a must to maintain a healthy body. The stronger you are the less effort it takes to do what ever you need to do. I have cut back on my exercise program i just do enough to stay healthy. I have stopped trying to lift more weight. I think when i dead lifted 415 pounds i proved to my self that i was strong enough. At age 63 i think i do not need to go any further.
Just do what you enjoy what ever it is. Because if you do not enjoy it you will stop.
All exercise is potentially good for Pd. Pd is a movement disorder and it is in the brain that we have to do the exercise, as well as the body.
I have been ably t overcome many of my Pd symptoms by doing fast walking, because it a high brain activity exercise.
Read my profile and learn more about how you can also possibly overcome many of your Pd symptoms.
Good luck!
I've had PD for 3 or 4 years. A little over a year ago I acquired a Theracycle and use it for an hour 3 to 5 times a week I still have a small tremor in my right hand, have to make a conscious effort to walk normally, but these symptoms have not gotten worse since I started using the Theracycle. I also work out for a half hour a week focusing on balance.
I am a Delay the Disease instructor and personal trainer. Delay the Disease is an evidence based exercise program for Parkinson’s.
You absolutely can delay your symptoms through exercise. Recent studies show that it must be intense though. Get your heart rate up then practice taking big steps, balance, rotation etc.
I use various pieces of equipment besides the exercise bike, such as the pull down. I find if I miss a few days of going to the gym I get really stiff, and weak as well. Exercise is supposed to be the number one thing you can do for Parkinsons. I'm too tired to go regularly, since I still work full time, but usually go a few times a week.
Locating PD exercise classes in London.
Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise Games for People with PD?
Exercise
Exercise
